Braille n' Speak and E-mail: FAQs

Contents of this page:

Introduction

This document provides basic information on how to the Blazie Engineering family of note-takers to use E-mail or connect to the Internet. The Blazie note-takers include Braille n’ Speak, Type n’ Speak, and Braille Lite. BNS will be used through out this document to represent any of the devices. This is not a curriculum (although that may come in the future).

What do I need to use the BNS for E-mail and Internet access?

Telephone Line
Modem - a device that allows computers to send and receive information over telephone lines. Cost is between $75 - $150.
BNS Serial cable
Null Modem adapter - one was included in the serial interface kit supplied with your BNS. It has a male connector on one side and a female connector on the other (note: if it has a little hole on the top or bottom it is the Tweedle-dump and not the null-modem). If one is not available, it can be purchased inexpensively at most any computer store.
BrailleTerm or V-Term software - telecommunication software for the BNS from Blazie Engineering. The software helps the BNS connect with the modem and interact with Internet services. The cost for each is Braille Term - $99 and V-Term - $49. (note: you will need a BNS diskdrive to install this software on your BNS)
Internet Service Provider (ISP) - look in the yellow pages "COMPUTERS-ONLINE SERVICES" for a provider in your area. Cost is $10-$20 per month (shop around)
Shell Account or Dial-up Access- provided by an ISP. A shell account provides text (non-graphic, non-Windows) access to the Internet through a host computer. Shell accounts usually provide a menu of services (E-mail, World Wide Web, file management, etc.)

Where can I get documentation and demonstration versions of BrailleTerm and V-Term?

For a demonstration version and documentation of Braille Term 2.0 - down load the file bt2demo.zip (File size: 73 K) Date: May 8, 1996)
For V-Term Documentation - down load the file vterm.doc (File size: 11K). There is not a demonstration version of V-Term available for download.

How do I connect the BNS to the Modem?

The steps for connecting the cable and null modem to the modem are as follows:

Connect the small end of the serial cable to the BNS
Connect the female end of the null modem to the large male end of the serial cable
Connect the male end of the null modem directly to the modem or to the serial cable of the modem.

What is the difference between Braille Term and V-Term?

From the Braille Term Manual:

Not only can BRAILLE TERM store information for an unlimited number of online services--limited only by your units' memory, but it supports all the upload and download protocols in your unit along with an external Z-MODEM protocol. It has a terminal mode, for emulating a VT100 terminal to a remote computer, and a review mode for examining the screen in detail. A full featured macro language is built into it as well. Other features like session logging, chat mode and a file viewer are also built into this program. Through the use of macros and definable keys, it is possible to fully customize Braille Term to your personal tastes.

From the V-Term section in the Blazie Catalog:

Any cyber-surfer will welcome this, a full VT-100 emulation program developed especially for Blazie notetakers. Your access to on-line services and the Internet has just opened considerably wider! (Full VT-100 emulation is required by some e-mail programs, such as Pine and Elm, and others.)

Look at just some of what you get:

Full VT-100 emulation for all keystrokes and cursor keys

Voice inflection denotes Web hyperlinks

Cursor tracking toggle for quick flicks between reading and editing modes

Full support for all functions of Pine and Elm

Facilities for entering control characters and function keys

Instructions for first-time modem users

How do I install Braille Term or V-Term on the BNS?

Install Braille Term or V-Term on the BNS using the portable disk drive

Attach diskdrive to BNS
Insert the appropriate disk
Enter "o-chord" on BNS - option
Enter "f" - file commands
Enter "t-chord" - file transfer
Enter "r" - receive file
Enter file name "brlterm.bns" for Braille Term or "vt100.bns" for V-Term
Enter "4,6-chord" - enter key
The file will be installed in the BNS's memory

What program do I use for E-Mail?

The most common text based E-mail program available on Shell Accounts is called Pine. There are several tutorials and user guides available on the World Wide Web at the following addresses.

Agency Contact Information | Texas State Homepage | Texas State Wide Search

Please complete the comment form or send comments and suggestions to: Jim Allan (Webmaster-Jim Allan)

Last Revision: July 30, 2002

Author: Jim Allan, TSBVI

The URL of this page is: http://www.tsbvi.edu/